Portable drinking fountain



Nov. 20, 1951 G. H. ANDREWS 2,575,936

PORTABLE DRINKING FOUNTAIN I Filed Jan. 8, 194'? 2 SHEETSSHEET l ATTORNEYS 1951 s. H. ANDREWS PORTABLE DRINKING FOUNTAIN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 \IIIIIIIIIIIIII\\ llllllllllla FIG.8

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 PORTABLE DRINKING FOUNTAIN George H. Andrews, Washington, D. 0., assignor to Seamless Products (30., Inc., a corporation of New York Application January 8, 1947, Serial No. 720,728

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drinking fountains, and is directed more particularly to a portable drinking fountain which is adapted to be moved from place to place on construction jobs, etc.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a water cooler which includes a body supported on a plurality of legs, said body being comprised of an outer casing, an inner casing forming a reservoir, and insulation between said casings, an insulated cover for said casings and a drinking fountain connected to the interior of said reservoir via one of said legs. I also contemplate providing drinking fountains on more than one of the legs and each drinking fountain will be connected to the interior of the reservoir via the leg on which it is connected.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a portable drinking fountain of at least one nozzle or bubbler carried on one of the legs supporting the fountain, tray means below and about said nozzle, and a drain pipe connected to said tray means for leading off waste water.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a drinking fountain of the character described of a pipe closed on one end and adapted to be placed over one of the legs supporting said fountain and adapted to catch and retain waste water from said fountain. This is particularly adaptable for use where the fountain is positioned in a finished or partly finished. building, to supply water for the workers, as obviously the waste water cannot wet the floor adjacent to where the fountain is positioned.

The new and improved fountain may also be used in public conveyances, such as street cars, inter-urbane, buses, railroad trains, aircraft, or any other public conveyances. Consider the case of buses, for example. At certain stops, the drinking fountain used on a bus may be removed and a freshly charged fountain positioned there in to replace the one removed to ensure that the passengers could all get a good cool drink of water from a decent source. Another use is on light and heavy trucks, including pickup trucks and equipment trucks, such as telephone and telegraph crews use, In other words, my new andimproveddrinking fountain is adapted to be used on all kinds of outdoor work, all kinds of indoor work, and for public use both indoors and out of doors.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my new and improved portable drinking fountain showing the cover in position on the tank;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the drinking fountain shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the tank, as seen along the lines 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail, showing the connection between the interior of the tank and the nozzle or bubbler of the fountain;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the braces joining the four legs supporting the tank;

Figure 7 is a plan View of the nozzle or bubbler and its tray, as seen along the line 1-1 of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, showing a pipe connection between the tray and a drain pipe.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, my new and improved drinking fountain is comprised fundamentally of an insulated tank In for containing drinking water, and a plurality of legs I i,

I2, I3 and I4 secured to said tank and forming a support therefor.

A brace comprised of cross members I5 and Iii (see also Figure 6) may be provided for bracing the legs and these braces may be secured to the legs as follows: the brace I5 may have parallel spaced straps I! and I8 secured thereto, for example, by welding, and a bolt I9 may pass through aligned holes in the straps l1 and I8 and through a corresponding hole formed in the leg It. On the other end, the member I5 may have spaced parallel straps 20 and 2| secured to the leg I2:by means of a bolt 22. The brace member I6 may have spaced parallel straps 23 and 24 secured to one end thereof and spaced parallel straps 25 and 26 secured to the other end th-ereof. The straps 23 and 24 are secured to the leg I I by means of a bolt 21 and the straps 25 and 26 are secured to the leg It by means of a bolt 28 passing therethrough. If desired, the members I5 and It may be secured together where they cross each other by means of a bolt 29 passing through aligned holes formed therein to accommodate the bolt, or the members may be welded together.

The tank II], referring now to Figure 4, includes an inner tank member 3fl which is telescoped into an outer tank member 3| with suitable insulation 32 ,therebetween. Around the top perimeter of the tank, the inner member 3!] has an overhanging flange 33 which abuts the upper perimeter of the tank member 3| and thereby the insulation 32 is sealed therein. The cover for the tank II! is comprised of an upper flat plate 34 and a lower plate 35 with suitable insulation 36 therebetween. Thelower plate 35 is offset upwardly to present a flat surface 35a adapted to contact the upper perimeter of the tank member Ill, and along the line of offset a suitable sealing gasket 31 is secured to the cover.

The cover handle 38 is comprised of a tubular member 39, the ends 48 and 41 of which are bent to form a right angle with the main portion 39. The ends 48 and M are provided with internal threads which are engaged by screws 42 and 43, respectively, passing through aligned holes formed in the plate members 34 and 35. Between the members 34 and 35 and embracing the screws 42 and 43 to prevent insulation from spilling when the screws are removed, are bushings M and 45, respectively. A tube 46 extends through aligned holes in the members 34 and 35 and forms an opening through which the tank may be filled. The upper end of the tube extends above the plate 34 and carries a plurality of L-shaped slots (not shown) which cooperate with pins, one of which is shown at 41, to form bayonet locks. The pins 41 are carried in a cooperating cap or closure for the opening in the tube 46. This cap is comprised of a cup-shaped member 48, the upper rim of which carries a plurality of pins 47. Abutting the upper lip of the cup 48 is a larger inverted cup 49 which is secured to the lip of the cup 48 in any suitable manner, for example, by welding, so that the lower cup 48 closes the tube 45 and the upper inverted cup 59 overhangs and protects the opening against extraneous matter. Aligned holes are formed in the cups 38 and 49 and positioned therein and secured to both of them is a pipe nipple 58, the upper end of which carries threads engaged by a pipe cap 52. A chain 53 has one end secured to the cap 52 and its other end is secured to the inverted cup 49, so that when the cap is unscrewed it will not become lost. The

connection between the upper end of the chain 53 and the cap 52 is swiveled, as is customary, to permit the cap to turn without twisting the chain, but since such swivels are old in the art, it is not illustrated and described in detail. Suitable insulation Ed is provided between the cup 48, the cup 49 and the wall of the nipple 58.

Referring to Figure 5, the method of securing the legs to the tank member It is shown. Each of the legs II, I2, I3 and I4 has welded thereto near the upper end thereof, a disc-like washer, such as the washer 55 shown in Figure 5. This washer is welded to the leg I4, in Figure 5, and. has one edge 55a curved to match the contour of the outer tank iii. A plurality of holes are formed in the washer 55 through which screws, such as the screws 58, extend and engage correspondingly threaded holes formed in the member 3 I As an option, the holes in the member 3| may be plain holes and the screws 56 may be so-called se1f-tapping screws.

The leg It has an aperture or opening 51 formed therein and a circular tray 58 having a vertical rim 59 has a hole 68 formed therein through which the leg I4 extends. After the tray 58 is positioned on the leg I4 with its inner surface slightly below the aperture 51 formed in the leg Hi, the tray is welded or otherwise secured in fluid-tight relation to the leg I4, as is shown at 5B.

A length 'of tubing 62 is secured into the inner tank member 35! in fluid-tight relation via a hole 63 formed in the inner tank 38 and the interior oi the tubing 82 communicates with the interior of the tank 39 at a low point therein. The lower end of the tubing 52 is soldered or otherwise secured to a block fitting S4 and a nozzle or bubbler 85 is secured to the fitting 84 by means of a nut 55, so that the interior of the bubbler 65 is in communication with the interior of the tubing 62 via the valve on the bubbler. By depressing the button 61, water is discharged via an orifice 68. The bracket 12 secured to the tray 58 engages and steadies the bubbler 65. Waste water falls into the tray 58 and passes via the orifice 51 and down the interior of the leg I4 to the bottom thereof.

A modification of the arrangement of the tray 58 is shown in Figures 1 to 3, 7 and 8. Referring to these figures, the tray 58a having a vertical rim 59a is secured to the leg I4 in fluid-tight relation by soldering or welding, as shown at B9.

The tray 58a has a hole III formed therein, and

positioned'in this hole and welded to the body of the tray 5811 is a nipple II. It will be understood that the nipple II is spaced apart from the leg l4. Secured to the leg l4 by means of brackets I3 and i4 is a pipe I5 having a closed end H5. The pipe I5 is clipped into the brackets I3 and I4, which are welded to the leg I4, and the pipe I5 may therefore be removed and the contents thereof removed whenever desired. The nipple II is telescoped into the upper open end of the pipe 15, as shown in Figure 3, and as shown in greater detail in Figure 8.

In order to enable a worker to move the new and improved drinking fountain from location to location, a shoulder strap TI is provided on the leg I I and, a second shoulder strap 18 is provided on the leg I2. The upper end of the strap I! has a portion l9 embracing the leg II adjacent to the tank I9. The other end of the strap II has a portion 89 embracing the leg II and suitable means, for example, a pin 8i, extending through the portion 89 and the leg II, prevents the portion 89 from rising along the leg II. The shoulder strap I8 is secured to the leg I2 in the same manner and the embracing portion 82 thereof may have a pin83 extend through the leg I2 to prevent it from rising thereon.

When it is desired to move my new and improved fountain from' one location to another, a worker, with his back to the device, places his right arm through the loop TI and his left arm through the loop 78, and pushes these loops up on his shoulders. The height is such that a man of the average height while doing this would be slightly stooped, and then as soon as he straightens up to full height, the weight of the device is transferred to his shoulders and all four of the legs clear the ground or floor. This enables him to easily walk to the new location, following which he may stoop to bring all the legs in contact with the ground or floor and his arms may then be withdrawn from the loops I1 and I8, leaving the device in position for use in the new location.

The cover 34 is secured to the tank proper by means of bolts 98 engaged by wing nuts 81. The leg I3 may be formed in a plurality of sections telescoped together, for example, a smaller piece of tubing I3a is telescoped into the leg I3 and by means of a clamping screw 88 the length of the combined telescoped leg l3, I3a may be increased or'decreased in accordance with the height at which the fountain 65 is to be disposed. The section [3a of the leg may also carry on its lower end a caster 39. The leg I4 is also provided with a telescoped section Ma and may carry a clamping screw 88 and a caster 89. The telescoped portions permitleveling the device at any desired height (within the limit of the lengths of said extensions) and the caster 89 permit the device to be rolled about from place to place, if the terrain warrants it.

Although the legs are shown with only a single telescoped section in each one, it is obvious that several sections may be telescoped in each leg and such arrangement would permit the tank legs to be collapsed so that the tank can be transported on a truck or railroad car more efllciently, and then after it has been taken to a desired location, the legs may be readily adjusted to the desired height.

Although the drawings show one bubbler or fountain mounted on one of the legs and connected to the interior of the tank by means of a conduit extending up said leg, it will be understood that I contemplate mounting fountains or bubblers on more than one leg; for example, I may mount one fountain on one leg and another on the leg diagonally opposite, or I may mount fountains on three or even four of the legs, because in many cases, the fountain will take care of peak demands, because four persons could drink at the same time. Therefore, when a single fountain or faucet is mentioned in the claims, it is understood that that is the minimum number of fountains or faucets.

The leg 53 (or any other leg, for that matter) may carry a bracket, such as the bracket 84, for supporting a salt tablet dispenser 85 on the device.

The term faucet means employed herein is taken to mean any form of shut-off device, whether it be a faucet, spigot or bubbler.

Although I have herein shown and described one form of the invention by way of example, and a slight modification of the treatment of the tray for catching the waste water, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangements herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable drinking fountain, a relatively shallow insulated tank adapted to contain water, a plurality of hollow tubular legs secured to said tank and forming supports therefor, each of said legs forming an acute angle with the vertical axis of said tank, conduit means extending downwardly within at least one of said legs and having its upper end in fluid communication with the interior of said tank, a faucet extending angularly from said last mentioned leg and connected to said conduit, and tray means positioned below said faucet and communicating with the interior of said last mentioned leg whereby waste water caught in said tray drains therefrom via said last mentioned leg.

2. In a portable drinking fountain, an insulated tank adapted to contain water, four hollow tubular legs secured to said tank and forming supports therefor, each of said legs forming an acute angle with the vertical axis of said tank and being adjustable for leveling said tank, means extending through one of said legs, termed a delivery leg, said means being in fluid communication with the interior of said tank for leading water to a point below said tank, a faucet connected to said means and supported on said delivery leg, a rimmed tray secured to said leg beneath said faucet and adapted to catch waste water falling from said faucet, and means forming an opening in said delivery leg substantially level with and in fluid communication with the interior of said tray and the interior of said delivery leg, whereby said waste water may pass freely from said tray down the interior of said delivery leg.

3. In a portable drinking fountain, a relatively shallow insulated tank adapted to contain water, a plurality of hollow tubular telescoped legs secured to said tank and forming supports therefor, each of said legs forming an acute angle with the vertical axis of said tank, conduit means extending downwardly within at least one of said legs, termed a delivery leg, and having its upper end in fluid communication with the interior of said tank, a tray secured to said delivery leg in spaced relation to said tank, means forming an opening in said delivery leg in fluid communication with said tray, and a bubbler mounted on said tray and connected to said conduit, said tray being adapted to catch waste water and deliver it via said opening to the interior of said delivery leg.

4. A portable drinking fountain according to claim 3, in which an insulated cover is provided for said tank, said cover having a handle and having adjacent to said'handle a filler opening through which the water in said tank may be replenished, said filler opening being provided with a removable filler cap flexibly linked to said cover.

5. A drinking fountain according to claim 2, in which a shoulder harness is mounted on at least two of said legs, whereby an operator may use said harness in transporting said fountain.

6. A drinking fountain according to claim 2, in which a shoulder harness is mounted on at least two of said legs, and in which bracing means joins all four of said legs and is arranged to provide clearance for the legs of an operator using said harness to transport said fountain.

7. In a drinking fountain, a relatively shallow insulated tank for containing Water, a plurality of hollow tubular telescoped legs secured to said tank and forming supports therefor, each of said legs forming an acute angle with the vertical axis of said tank, means in at least one of said legs communicating with the interior of said tank, and fountain means supported on said one of said legs and communicating with the interior of said last means.

8. A portable drinking fountain according to claim 2 in which a pair of adjacent legs is provided with shoulder harness means comprised of a loop of flexible material, the free ends of which are secured to one of the legs of said pair in spaced relation, and a second loop of flexible material having its free ends secured to the other leg of said pair in spaced relation.

GEORGE H. ANDREWS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 172,238 Wood 1 Jan. 11, 1876 349,704 Fletcher Sept. 28, 1886 998,581 Johnsen July 18, 1911 1,038,021 Summers -1 Sept. 10, 1912 1,265,955 Ramsey May 14, 1918 1,290,785 Rodgers Jan. 7, 1919 1,324,142 Bowlzer et al. Dec. 9, 1919 1,35,064= Pratt Sept. 28, 1920 2,216,509 Boyd Oct. 1, 1940 2,281,142 Davis Apr. 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,652 Sweden Dec. 12, 1908 

